Mail box signal



E. H. JOHNSON MAIL BOX SIGNAL Feb; .9, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July9. 1958 INVENTOR. EDwm H. JOHNSON E. H. JOHNSON MAIL BOX SIGNAL Pet .9,1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 9, 1958 m N E M J EDWIN H. JOHNSON BY mUnited States Pat fi o MAIL BOX SIGNAL Edwin H. Johnson, Dayton, OhioApplication July 9, 1958, Serial No. 747,375

4 Claims. (Cl. 232-35) This invention relates to a new and improvedsignal device for use on a mail box and more specifically to a new andimproved signal device which may be mounted upon and used in conjunctionwith a conventional rural mail box without requiring substantialmodification of the mail box.

Many rural mail boxes are equipped with signal flags or similar deviceswhich may be actuated by the mail carrier to inform the owner of the boxwhenever mail has been deposited therein.' These same signal members mayalso be employed to inform the carrier that the mail box owner hasdeposited mail in the box to be picked up. In general, these devices arenot automatic in nature and it is necessary that the carrier or owner ofthe box remember to move the signal flag from a normal position to asignalling position each time mail is deposited in the box, whether forpickup or delivery purposes. Other mechanisms have been proposed forautomatically actuating the signal each time the door of the. box isopened to deposit mail therein. These devices have been relativelycomplex in construction, however, and in general have requiredsubstantial modification in the construction of the mail box itself.Consequently, the automatic signal devices have not enjoyed widespreadacceptance and use.

A principal object of the invention, therefore, is a new and improvedautomatic mail box signal which is relatively simple and economical inconstruction and which includes a minimum number of parts.

Another object of the invention is a new and improved automatic mail boxsignal which may be conveniently mounted upon a conventional mail boxand which may be actuated automatically by opening of the mail box dooror cover, yet which does not require any structural modification of thebox.

A more specific object of the invention is a new and improved mail boxsignal which is controlled completely by a single cam and a singleactuating member which cooperates with that cam, thereby minimizingmainte nance and operational difliculties and hold the cost of thedevice to a minimum.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent fromthe following description and claims and are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show a preferredembodiment of the present invention and the principles thereof and whatis now considered to be the best mode for applying those principles.Other embodiments of the invention embody ing the same or equivalentprinciples may be used and structural changes may be made as desired bythose ,skilled in the art without departing from the present inventionand the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional rural mail box having amail box signal construction in accordance with the invention mountedthereon; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation view of a mailbox signal con-Patented Feb. 9,

structed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;Fig. 3 is a front elevation view of the mail box signal; Fig. 4 is abottom view of the mail box signal with a part of the housing removed toshow the operating mechanism therein; Fig. 5 is an elevation view, drawnto an enlarged scale, showing the signal operating mechanism in a firstor initial position; Fig. 6 is an ele: vation view of the signaloperating mechanism, similar to Fig. 5 but showing the mechanism in asignalling or released position; and Fig. 7 is a view of the signaloperating mechanism similar to Figs. 5 and 6, showing the mechanism inan intermediate or transient position.

In Fig. 1 there is illustrated a conventional rural mail box 10 having amain or body section 11 with one open end covered by a door or cover 12.The door 12 is hinged to the body 11 of the mail box as indicated byreference numeral 13, and may be swung from a closed position coveringthe open end of the mail box to an open position indicated by thephantom outline 12A. To hold the door 12 in closed position, the mailbox 10 is provided with a simple latch comprising a pair of spring latchmembers 14 and 15. The latch member 14 is mounted upon the cover 12,whereas the mating latch member is aflixed to and projects from the body11 of the mail box.

In accordance with conventional practice, the rim of the door 12 isprovided with a flange 16 which fits into the open end 17 of the box.Furthermore, the edge portion of the door afiords a bead 18 whichengages the rim of the open end 17 of the box. It is not essential thatthe present invention be employed with a box having this particular doorconstruction, however; indeed, the invention is applicable to anyordinary swinging door structure.

A mail box signal device 19 is mounted upon the body 11 of the mail box10 adjacent the open end 17 thereof. The general construction andorganization of the signal device 19 may best be understood by referenceto Figures 1-4, which show the signal in its operative relation to themail box. As indicated in these figures, the mail box signal 19comprises a housing or support structure 21 which is disposed closelyadjacent the open end 17 of the mail box and is mounted on the box bymeans of a bracket 22. The support structure 21 is relatively simple inconstruction and comprises a pair of sheet metal support members 23 and24 which fit together to form an enclosed housing, the two members 23and 24 being secured to each other by suitable means such as the screws,rivets, or other fastening devices 25.

The bracket 22 is afiixed to the housing 21 by means of a bolt 26, whichis threaded into a nut 27 secured to a projecting tab portion 23? of thehousing or support member 23. The bracket includes a hook shapedprojection 28, which engages one side of the upper or fixed latch member15 as best shown in Figure 3. A small ear or lug 29 projects outwardlyof the housing member 23 and engages the opposite side of the latchmember 15. The lug 29 is preferably formed as an integral part of thehousing member 23. Thus, the housing 21 may be mounted upon the latchmember 15 simply by loosening the bolt 25, sliding the housing structureonto the latch member 15 with the lug 29 beneath the latch member, andtightening the bolt 26 to bring the projection portion 28 of the bracket22 into gripping engagement with the latch member 15.

The mail box signal 19 also includes a signal member 31 comprising anelongated rod 32 having a flag or signal element 33 mounted on one endthereof. The end of the rod 32 opposite the flag 33 is bent to form aright angle portion 34 which extends through and is journaled in the twosupport members 23 and 24 comprising 3 l the support structure 21. Thesignal member 31 is movable between an initial or unactuated position,as indicated in solid lines in Fig. l, and an actuated or signallingposition, as illustrated by the. phantom outline 31A.

A cam member 35 is mounted upon the extension or shaft portoin 34 of thesignal member 31, the cam being located within the housing afforded bythe support structure 21. The cam member 35 is relatively simple inconstruction; it is a single-lobe cam affording a pair of armatelydisplaced shoulders 36 and 37 separated by a cam surface 33. Within thehousing 21, there is a fixed stop member 39 which is positioned Withinthe path of movement of the two cam shoulders 36 and 37. The stop member39 is employed to limit rotational movement of the cam to apredetermined arc, as discussed more fully hereinafter.

The operating mechanism of the signal device 19 also includes a latchpawl 41 which is mounted within the housing 21 upon a pair of studs 42and 43, the studs being secured to the support 23. The studs 42 and 43project through an elongated slot 44 in the pawl 41. The studs 42 and 43are provided with individual washers or collars 46 and 47, respectively,which engage the pawl and maintain it in alignment with the verticalside position of the support member 23. An intermediate portion 45 ofthe slot 44 is enlarged to permit pivotal movement of the pawl 41 aboutthe stud 42. Thus, the pawl is movable in two co-ordinate directions; itmay be moved linearly lengthwise of the slot 44, and it may movepivotally. One end 43 of the pawl 41 projects outwardly of the housing21 and is engaged by the head or flange portion 18 of the mail box cover12. The opposite end of the pawl carries a cam follower roller 49 whichengages the cam 35.

The operating mechanism of the signal device 19 is also provided with abiasing means for urging the pawl 41 into engagement with the cam 35.This biasing means comprises a tension spring 51 having one endconnected to a pin 52 on the pawl 41. The opposite end of the spring 51is connected to a pin 53 mounted upon and extending between the supportmembers 22 and 23. In addition, the operating mechanism includes asignal actuating means which provides the driving force necessary forautomatic actuation of the signal device. In the illustrated embodiment,this actuating means comprises a torsion spring 54 shown in Figs. -7.One end 55 of the spring 54 is affixed to the upper Wall portion of thesupport member 23. The opposite end of the spring is wound around andaffixed to the hub of the cam 35, as best illustrated in Figs. 5-7.

Referring to Fig. 4 it is seen that the pawl 41 is positioned closelyadjacent the interior surface of the support member 23. Cam 35 ispositioned adjacent the same interior surface of the housing. The camfollower 49, a portion of which is obstructed by shaft 34 as viewed inFig. 4, engages the periphery of the cam 35. The spring 54 is positionedadjacent the interior surface of the housing member 24 and is attachedto the interior of the upper surface of the housing 21 at the portion55. The spring 54 is connected to the signal element shaft 34 to causerotation of the signalling element to a signalling position. As isapparent in Fig. 4, the spring 54 and pawl 45. are disposed adjacentopposite sides of the housing 21.

In explaining the operating characteristics of the mail box signal 19,it should be understood that Fig. 5 shows the signal mechanism in afirst or non-signalling position, that Fig. 6 shows the mechanism in anactuated or signalling position, and that Fig. 7 illustrates atransitional position which occurs as the mechanism moves between thepositions of Figs. 5 and 6. With these considerations in mind, thedescription of operation may be initiated by first considering Fig. 5.

With the mechanism in the position illustrated in Fig.

. 4 5, the signal arm 32 is disposed substantially horizontally, withthe flag 33 downward in its non-signalling position. The actuatingspring 54 exerts a continuing force upon the hub position of the cam 35urging the cam toward rotation in a clockwise direction. Because the camis pinned or otherwise affixed to the shaft portion 34 of the arm 32,the spring also biases the arm 32 toward clockwise rotation.

The shoulder 36 of the cam 35, however, is engaged by the cam followerroller 49 on the pawl 41. The pawl 41 cannot move ina horizontaldirection, since, with the cover of the mail box closed, the end 48 ofthe pawl is engaged by the edge portion 18 of the mail box cover 12 (seeFig. 2). Moreoventhe pawl 41 is restrained against vertical or pivotalmovement by the spring 51. Consequently, the cam follower portion 49 ofthe pawl 41 prevents movement of the cam 35 and the signal member arm 32from the position shown in Fig. 5 as long as the cover of the mail boxremains closed.

When the cover 12 of the mail box 10 is opened, however, as when thecover is moved to the position 12A (Fig. l) to place mail in the box,the operating mechanism of the signal device 19 is automaticallyactuated to raise the signal member 31 to its alternate or signallingposition 31A. When the cover of the box i opened, the pawl 41 isreleased for movement in the first coordinate direction as indicated inFigs. 5-7 by the arrow A. Upon release, the spring 54 drives the cam 35in a clockwise direction, forcing the cam follower 49 and the pawl 41 tothe right as seen in these figures. After the cam has rotated through arelatively short arc, it reaches a transient position in which the camfollower 49 is effectively displaced, horizontally, from the path ofmovement of the cam shoulder 36, this position being shown in Fig. 7.Continued rotation of the cam brings the cam to a released or signallingposition as shown in Fig. 6. In the position of Fig. 6, the rotationalmovement of the cam 35 is interrupted by engagement of the cam shoulder36 with the stop member 39. Stop member 39 thus efiectively holds thecam 35 and the signal arm 32 in the desired signalling position with thesignal arm projecting vertically upwardly and with the flag 33 elevatedfor ready visibility. (See Fig. 1).

The cam follower 49 is of course engaged with the cam surface 38 of thesingle lobe on the cam 35 and may ride along the cam surface to theposition illustrated in Fig. 6. In any event, as soon as the cover ofthe mail box is'closed, the pawl 41 i again forced inwardly of thehousingv 21 and ends up in the position shown in Fig. 6, with the camfollower 49 riding upon the surface 38 of the cam. Thus, the camfollower is displaced in its second co-ordinate direction, being pivotedabout the stud 42, in reaching the position of Fig. 6. It should benoted, however, that closing of the cover does not move the cam 35 orthe signal arm 32 from their signalling positions. This is true becausethe cam follower has been displaced from any possible engagement withcam shoulder 36 and cannot move the cam back to its original position.

When the mail is picked up, of course, it is desirable again to restorethe device 19 to its initial or unactuated position in order that thebox owner will know when the next delivery of mail is made. To restorethe signal device to its original condition, it is only neces sary tomove the arm 32, manually, in a counter clockwise direction back to theposition shown in Fig. 5. With the cover of the box closed, as it wouldbe after removal of the mail, counter clockwise rotation of the arm 32causes a similar rotation of the cam 35, restoring the cam to theposition shown in Fig. 5. The return movement of the cam is limited by'engagement of the stop 39 with the cam shoulder 37. As soon as the camreaches this position, the spring 51 pulls the pawl 41 downwardly. andbrings the cam follower 49 again into. the path of movement of the camshoulder 36. Consequently, the cam follower 49 is again in position" toprevent rotational movement'of the cam 35 and'thus holds the signalmechanism in its original or unactuated position. A

The extreme simplicity of the mail box signal 19 affords a two-foldadvantage. Of primary importance is the fact that there are no complexand expensive parts in the entire mechanism. That is, there are no gearsor other complex drive connections. Moreover, the single lobe cam 35 isextremely simple and inexpensive and does not include any parts ofunusual or complex configuration.- Indeed, except for a relativelysimple housing, the device 19 may be considered as including only sixessential parts, these being the arm 32, the cam 35, the'stop 39, thepawl 41, and the springs 51 and 54.

Another important advantage of the described construction relates to thepossibility of malfunction when in use. Because of its simplicity andinherent sturdiness of construction, the operating mechanism of the mailsignal 19 is almost completely trouble-free in operation. The entiremechanism is completely enclosed except for the projecting end of thepawl 41, thus afiording adequate protection against corrosion and othersimilar difliculties. There is little likelihood that any portion of themechanism could be misaligned with respect to the other portions,regardless of the number of times and the manner in which the signal isactuated.

Another highly important advantage of the mail box signal 19 relates tothe mounting of the signal mechanism upon the mail box 10. As pointedout herein- -before, it is completely unnecessary to modify the mail boxor the existing latch member on the mail box. No holes are drilled inthe box and no other structural changes are required. The signal may bereadily adapted to use with any conventional box, regardless of minorstructural variations.

Hence, while the preferred embodiment of the invention has beenillustrated and described, it is to be understood that this is capableof variation and modification, and I therefore do not wish to be limitedto the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of suchchanges and alterations as fall within the purview of the followingclaims.

I' claim:

1. A mail box signal for attachment to a mail box having an openablecover, said attachment comprising: a support structure; means formounting said support structure on a mail box; a signal member pivotallymounted on said support structure; a single-lobe cam, connected to saidsignal member for rotation therewith, said cam lobe affording a pair ofshoulders and a cam surface; a stop member for engaging said camshoulders to limit pivotal movement of said member to an arc terminatingat opposite ends in an initial position and a signalling position; alatch pawl having a cam follower mounted on one end thereof and acover-engaging portion at the opposite end thereof; means for mountingsaid pawl on said support structure for movement in two coordinatedirections from a latching position in which said cam follower engagesone of said cam shoulders to maintain said cam member in said initialposition, through a transient position in which said cam follower isdisplaced from the path of movement of said one cam shoulder in a firstco-ordinate direction, to a released position in which said cam followerengages said cam surface and is displaced from the path of movement ofsaid one cam shoulder in a second co-ordinate direction, movement ofsaid pawl in said first co-ordinate direction being prevented byengagement with the mail box cover when the cover is closed; a firstspring, connected to said pawl and said support structure, for urgingsaid pawl 'in said second co-ordinate direction away from said transientposition and toward said latching position; and a second spring,connected to said cam member and said support structure, for drivingsaid 'cain'member from said initial position to said signallingposition, thereby driving said pawl to said transient position, wheneverthe mail box cover is opened and released from engagement with saidpawl.

2. A mail box signal for attachment to a mail box having an openablecover, said attachment comprising: a support structure, means formounting said support structure on a mail box, a signal member pivotallymounted on said support structure, a rotatable cam member having a lowportion and at least one shoulder portion, the cam being connected tosaid signal member for rotation therewith, first resilient means biasingthe cam and signal member toward a signalling position, a latch pawlhaving a cam follower and a portion for contacting said openable cover,said pawl having an elongated slotted guide shaped to permitreciprocatory and rotational movement of the pawl, a pivot pin withinthe guide attached to the support structure and coacting with the guidein the reciprocatory and rotational movement of the pawl, secondresilient means biasing the cam follower of the pawl toward the cam tomaintain continuous engagement of the cam follower on the cam, the lowand shoulder portions of the cam being so located with respect to thesignal member that with the signal member in a non-signalling positionand the mail box cover in closed, abutting relation with the contactingportion of the latch pawl, the cam follower resides on the low portionof the cam and abuts the shoulder portion of the cam to maintain thesignal member in a non-signalling position.

3. A mail box signal for attachment to a mail box having an openablecover, said attachment comprising: a support structure, means formounting said support structure on a mail box, a signal member pivotallymounted on said support structure,-a rotatable cam member having a lowportion and at least one shoulder portion, the cam being connected tosaid signal member for rotation therewith, a stop fixed to said supportstructure and positioned to abut the shoulder portion of the cam tolimit the rotational movement of the cam upon attainment of thesignalling position of the signal member, first resilient means biasingthe cam and signal member toward a signalling position, a latch pawlhaving a cam follower and a portion for contacting said openable cover,said pawl having an elongated slotted guide shaped to permitreciprocatory and rotational movement of the pawl, a pivot pin withinthe guide attached to the support structure and coacting with the guidein the reciprocatory and rotational movement of the pawl, secondresilient means biasing the cam follower of the pawl toward the cam tomaintain continuous engagement of the cam follower on the cam, the lowand shoulder portions of the cam being so located with respect to thesignal member that with the signal member in a non-signalling positionand the mail box cover in closed, abutting relation with the contactingportion of the latch pawl, the cam follower resides on the low portionof the cam and abuts the shoulder portion of the cam to maintain thesignal member in a non-signalling position.

4. A mail box signal for attachment to a mail box having an openablecover, said attachment comprising: a support structure, means formounting said support structure on a mail box, a signal member pivotallymounted on said support structure, a rotatable cam member having a lowportion, a high portion, and at least one shoulder portion, the cambeing connected to said signal member for rotation therewith, a stopfixed to said support structure and positioned to abut the shoulderportion of the cam to limit the rotational movement of the cam uponattainment of the signalling position of the signal member, firstresilient means biasing the cam and signal member toward a signallingposition, a latch pawl having a cam follower and a portion forcontacting said opening cover, said pawl having an elongated slottedguide-shapediopermit.reciprocatory androtational move-- ment' of the;pawl, a pivot pin within the guide attached to-the support structure andcoactin'g with aguide in the reciprocatory and rotational movement ofthe pawl, second resilient means biasing the cam follower of the pawltoward the cam to maintain continuous engagement of the cam follower onthe cam, the lower andshoulder portions of the cam being so located withrespect to the signal member that with the signal member in anonsignalling position and the mail box cover in closed, abuttingrelation with the contacting portion of the latch pawl, the cam followerresides on the low portion of the cam and abuts the shoulder portion ofthe cam to maintain the signal member in a non-signalling position, and

the signalling element, cam, pawl and resilient means 15 2,693,314

being arranged so that upon opening, of the mail box cover'the' firstresilient means is operative to move the:

latch pawl in reciprocatory movement againstthe bias of the secondresilient means through the cam follower and cam'shoulder and'the highportion ofthecamis operative to move the latch pawl in reciprocatory androta- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSHurban Oct..7,1947 Hunter Nov. 2, 1954

